MGM Grand Casino

If there’s one thing Vegas does best, it’s big casinos. And they don’t get much bigger than the MGM Grand.

Designed from the outset to be biggest and best casino on the Strip, the MGM Grand covers a 6.6 acre area. This makes it the largest hotel resort in the USA, and the third largest in the world.

Indeed, so large is it that it even has its own dedicated registration/check-in facilities at nearby McCarran International Airport.

The biggest and the best

The vision behind the MGM Grand was nothing if not bold. When the project was commissioned, its objective was to create the single biggest resort hotel in the world – something it was able to duly realise when it opened its doors in December 1993.

The MGM Grand stands on the site formerly occupied by the Tropicana Country Club and the Marina Hotel, with the latter forming part of the MGM Grand’s ‘West Wing’ accommodation. However, during its early years, it did suffer from something of an identity crisis.

In a bid to attract more families, the hotel and casino were build adjacent to the MCM Grand Adventures theme park, and a strong Wizard of Oz theme was prevalent throughout. Sadly though, this didn’t have the desired impact, and by 2001, the theme park had been closed and the Wizard of Oz theme axed in favour of African, Hollywood and Carnival themes.

An amazing place to gamble

Befitting its brief, the MGM Grand has one of the largest casino floors on the Strip. This is some 171,500 square feet (15,930 m2) in size, and offers 139 table games and a whopping 2,500 slots.

Slots are a major draw at the MGM Grand, with the amounts accepted by its machines varying from $0.01 up to $1,000. Naturally, many of these offer progressive jackpots which pay out over $700,000 daily. And for the true slots connoisseur, there are high-limits slots where pay outs can be as high as $500,000.

There are, of course, other games though. And the range of table games on offer includes:

Blackjack

Craps

Baccarat

Roulette

Pai gow

Let it ride poker

Three-card poker

Crazy 4 poker

Casino war

Texas hold ‘em poker

And for those who enjoy sports betting, you’ll find its 300 square feet sports and race betting facilities perfect if you find yourself in the mood for a flutter.

Eat, drink and be entertained

If there’s one thing you won’t be short of at the MGM Grand, its ways to entertain yourself, irrespective of whether you’re a gambler or non-gambler.

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat and a frothy coffee, or a refined evening meal, MGM Grand’s array of 22 restaurants, cafes and diners cater for all palettes and whims. And if you don’t want to go out, you can always order food straight to your room using the 24-hour room service.

The hotel itself boasts an enviable selection of amenities, including five swimming pools, three whirlpools, a river and waterfall, and spa and salon.

Alternatively, you may wish to take in one of its many shows and events. Marvel at the death-defying stunts of the Cirque du Soleil, take in a sports event or concert at the MGM Garden Arena, laugh yourself silly in Brad Gassett’s Comedy Club, or have your brain pushed to the maximum in CSI: The Experience. All these, and more, are available at the MGM Grand.

And for those of you who wish to party the night away, you can do so in the hotels bars and night clubs, or head over to the pool for one of its pool parties.

America’s biggest hotel

Given that it’s the single biggest hotel resort in the US – it has some 6,852 rooms – it’s hardly surprising that the MGM Grand offers a wide array of rooms to suit most budgets.

Even the most basic rooms come with a flat-panel TV, a DVD player and high-speed internet access. While for those looking for the last word in luxury, the Skyloft penthouses – which span two whole floors and several rooms – offer uncompromising luxury, right down to your own personal butler and concierge.